The talking stick depicts classic characters, the killer whale and the eagle or thunderbird who are in this case likely totems for a certain clan. The carving is very nice and the use of color traditional. The talking Stick is usually reserved for tribal discussions and who ever wields the stick has the floor and controls the conversation, for a period of time.

This Talking Stick also is thought to have either deer or mountain goat dew claws to make the stick rattle- this is a nice traditional touch and not what one would expect to see on a piece made for the tourist trade. This is a very nice piece of Native American art.